Donations questioned in District 44 House race

Oct. 2, 2012

Written by

Jennifer Easton

Gannett Tennessee

District 44 House candidate Steve Glaser has questioned some of the campaign contributions being accepted by his opponent, Sumner County Assistant District Attorney William Lamberth.

Glaser said Lamberth is taking donations from local attorneys whose clients end up under his prosecution.

Glaser, also an attorney and a former Portland city judge, issued a news release last week calling on Lamberth to return a $500 campaign contribution donated in March by the father of a Portland man facing trial in the shooting death of his wife. Glaser also accused Lamberth of inappropriately accepting a $1,000 donation from the man’s attorney, John Pellegrin.

“As an officer of the court and as an employee of the prosecutor’s office, Mr. Lamberth should not have accepted this donation and should return it immediately,” he said.

In the news release, Glaser leveled thinly veiled accusations that the Sumner County District Attorney’s office allowed Kenneth Lame, indicted on second-degree murder charges in the November 2010 death of his wife, Wendy White Lame, to plead guilty to a lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide, and that the plea deal was a result of a $1,500 donation.

Kenneth Lame was sentenced in June to two years in prison.

Glaser admitted he didn’t think Lamberth or anyone working in the district attorney’s office did anything illegal or malicious. He said he wanted to bring attention to the contributions only to inform voters, because by accepting the money Lamberth gave “the appearance of impropriety.”

“I know everyone in the DA’s office,” Glaser said. “They are all great people who work hard. It just looks bad.’’

Lamberth, who prosecutes drunken driving cases and vehicular crimes, said he had no involvement in the Lame case, nor did he have any conversations about it with prosecuting Assistant District Attorney Ron Blanton, Pellegrin, the Lames, or the victim’s family while the case was pending.

“The (death of Wendy Lame) was a horrible tragedy for both of these families; it destroyed them,” Lamberth said. “Steve should be ashamed that (his actions) will dredge up more pain for his political gain.”

Glaser resigned as Portland city judge in August. Glaser said he didn’t see any conflict in accepting the campaign donations he received while presiding over city court.

Glaser attacked Lamberth again last Thursday, issuing a news release calling into question a combined $6,000 in campaign donations from about a dozen local attorneys who defend drunken driving and drug-related cases which Lamberth prosecutes.

“It’s disappointing (Glaser) feels he needs to sling mud,” Lamberth said. “We agreed early on to discuss the issues of the campaign and not go negative. I think this shows he’s very desperate.”

One of Lamberth’s donors, Gallatin attorney Lawren Lassiter, said he had professional respect for both men but felt Glaser’s allegations were “reckless.”

Lassiter speculated that Glaser was attempting to deflect negative attention following a Sept. 19 news story revealing four bankruptcies and $88,000 in unpaid taxes Glaser owes to the Internal Revenue Service.

Pellegrin also responded, saying suggestions by Glaser that there was a connection to the outcome of any criminal case with Lamberth’s campaign contributions was “ludicrous.”

Pellegrin noted he had contributed to Lamberth, but also gave $200 to Glaser’s campaign, which would be reflected in the third-quarter campaign finance reports due Oct. 10. Glaser confirmed the contribution.

James Vick, interim chief disciplinary counsel for the Board of Professional Responsiblity, the panel which disciplines lawyers, said nothing in its rules specifically covers campaign donations.

It is possible that the donations could trigger conflict-of-interest provisions in the rules governing attorneys, but he said that’s unlikely. Even if it did, it would be handled on a case-by-case basis, he said.

Drew Rawlins, executive director of the Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance, said there are no rules that his office oversees that would preclude Lamberth from accepting donations from other attorneys.

The latest campaign finance reports covering the pre-primary period ending July 23 showed Lamberth’s campaign had an ending balance of $44,567. Glaser ended the same period with $6,190.